Motorcyclist dies after canal accident

A motorcyclist died today after his bike went into a Black Country canal.

The 26-year-old is believed to have been found by a man walking his dog along a path off Holloway Bank, Wednesbury, at 6.20pm yesterday.

He was found at the third bridge down over the canal and pulled out of the water in a state of cardiac arrest by police. But medics found a weak pulse and he was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. However, he died today.

A Yamaha motorbike was recovered from the water by forensic experts.

It is thought the man, who was wearing a crash helmet, had hit his head on a bridge. He had apparently lost control of his motorbike as he rode on grass on the opposite side to the towpath.

Duty Inspector Bernard McEldowney, of West Midlands Police, said: "There is evidence at the scene to suggest he lost control of his bike. There's nothing to suggest there is a third party involved."